Being honest…

The best measure of a man’s honesty isn’t his income tax return. It’s the zero adjust on his bathroom scale. ~ Arthur C. Clarke

Is honesty honestly the best policy or is the middle route of a bit of honesty and a bit of lies seems safer. On an average every person lies at least 4-5 times in a day (though the average for men seems higher than the women, not being biased here) which on a real note seems acceptable. We all have our share of white lies on display at work, with our family, spouse, and friends.

As they say truth and honesty come at a price, the only question being here at what expense. What is it that is at stake? Our moral standards persuade us to comply to honestly. In our day to day living it is essential that we incorporate this virtue. In this generation x where we could stoop to any levels to survive the cut throat competition and achieve our ambitions, little does it matter that we compromise on honesty. Survival of the fittest seems to be the worldly mantra now. So in a professional environment it’s a given, that you compromise on your honesty at some point in time.

Honesty is the rarest wealth anyone can possess, and yet all the honesty in the world ain't lawful tender for a loaf of bread.  ~Josh Billings

In the truest term honesty can never be ‘policy’, and it can’t be applied to all walks of life. Where in a competitive world conciliation with your honesty is tolerable, how acceptable is it in our relationships. Do we risk losing the people we love and care at the cost of being honest? Or do they strengthen the ties? Where this topic could be vastly debatable, it does require a good deal of reflection. We all want to be honest when it comes to our relationships, but whether or not the opposite person mature enough to handle it will always be incomprehensible. And then the only safer path appears to be that of white lies. But the only thing one should be wary of is not to allow these white lies progress to murky deceptions.  To allow almost total honesty would mean oodles and oodles of trust in a relationship, where one knows their limitations and adheres to the same. And when you find yourself at the receiving end of these ‘ugly truths’, all you can do is muster up all the maturity you have and trust ;)

Honesty is the cruelest game of all, because not only can you hurt someone – and hurt them to the bone – you can feel self-righteous about it at the same time. ~ Dave Van Ronk

We all have our reasons (good enough) to do (or say) what we do, whether honest or not, we should be responsible for our own ugly truths. The toughest test would be being honest and true to oneself… it wouldn’t ensure you will be loved, but is certainly an integral part of it.

Nothing can bring you peace but yourself. ~ Ralph Waldo Emerson

Have you felt the need of being alone? Somehow facing the inner emptiness can be daunting. But there are times when things don’t go as you planned, some accidents change your whole life, some people choose to leave you (death or otherwise), and some times despite everything being perfect there seems to be this empty space within you. A ‘space’ which no one can fathom, touch, feels or see; except you.  A space that which understands only silence. A space which cannot be filled by words, feelings, people, entertainment, books, etc. A ‘space’ which makes us feel lonely even in a crowd. This space could be enforced or by choice.

It is only when we silent the blaring sounds of our daily existence that we can finally hear the whispers of truth that life reveals to us, as it stands knocking on the doorsteps of our hearts.  ~K.T. Jong

Every one at some stage in life craves to be alone. It could be driven by external circumstances, inner restlessness, and excess in ambition or over indulgence in materialism or simply when you find yourself at crossroads of life. And it almost becomes imperative to find your identity or yourself. The answers which are not answered in the chaos of daily life are more often revealed when you seek them within you. Most of the times when you are in the arms of mother nature or indulge in doing something which is blissful and brings you closer to yourself and ultimately god.

Contrary to well-liked belief being empty doesn’t make u a recluse, it just gets you to closer to the most important person and that is “you”. We devote our entire lives to the people we care and love about, everything that we do orbits around these people. And we forget the one who should matter the most. So am I being self centered whilst saying this? Nah… as children we have been conditioned to help, love and care for others and seldom pay heed to our needs. But what we forget is that we cannot love n care for others if we don’t love ourselves. At the cost of sounding narcissistic I would say that the simple truth is you cannot give someone something that you yourself do not possess.

One travels more usefully when alone, because he reflects more. ~ Thomas Jefferson

It becomes imperative that we give this person all the love and attention he/she deserves only to add more depths to them. So it’s about time to pack your bags and take that well deserved trip to a destination of your choice or learn the skill that you once sacrificed for someone else’s happiness, dancing, singing, gardening, painting, take a hike, walk down the beach or park… take your pick or just stick to basic meditation. Whatever makes you lose yourself and rejuvenate you… tread this journey from the pangs of loneliness to the bliss of being alone… Time to unveil your happiness by giving ‘you’ the joy of solitary freedom…

The time you feel lonely is the time you most need to be by yourself ~ Doug Coupland